The beautiful seaside towns of Nova Scotia – in pictures

The seaside towns of Nova Scotia are a treat for the eyes, with brightly painted wooden houses nestling the waterfronts, rocky shores and sandy beaches to walk along, and fishermen unloading their catch off wooden boats. Photographer Greta Rybus captures some of the province’s most beautiful scenes

Chester

Gorgeous Chester is full of expensive, stately homes, yachts (it has its own race week and a yacht club), and sweet little places to explore and hang out. The Kiwi Cafe is a great spot for lunch, and there are several good seafood restaurants in town. The Chester Playhouse offers theatre all year round, as well as dinner theatre nights. You can also catch a passenger ferry from Chester to the beautiful Tancook Islands, where you can rent a bike and visit little arts and craft stores, and grab lunch at the Big Tancook Island Cafe and Restaurant before sailing back again.

Lunenburg

Deemed a Unesco world heritage site, the pretty little town of Lunenburg is home port for the Bluenose II tall ship and famous for its brightly painted historic buildings – a dreamy spot to spend an afternoon. The narrow roads close to the docks are home to the Fisheries Museum of the Atlantic, quaint local businesses such as the fabulous Ironworks Distillery – which is housed in an old blacksmith’s shop, and superb restaurants such as Fleur de Sel (fancy French cuisine) or the Grand Banker Seafood Bar and Grill. Wander the narrow streets to see grand old homes with ornate finishes.

Mahone Bay

Three historic wooden churches sit around postcard-pretty Mahone Bay, and the town is full of stunning and unique homes that have been turned into businesses and B&Bs. You can easily spend an afternoon browsing the gift stores, antique stores, boutiques and galleries on Main Street, which runs alongside the ocean. The Biscuit Eater cafe and used bookstore is fabulous. Get the Scoop serves up delicious homemade ice-cream, and you’ll find plenty more locally made goodies at Jo-Ann’s Deli (as well as great lobster rolls).

Shelburne

To walk along historic Dock Street is to step back in time, with wooden storehouses and homes looking pretty much as they have for several hundred years. There’s a great pub, the Sea Dog, where you should stop for fish cakes and homemade baked beans. Stop by for a tour or tasting at the awesome Boxing Rock Brewing Co and pick up some top craft brews. Shelburne has an interesting history, as some 3,000 black loyalists escaped here during the American Revolution, and you can learn all about this at the nearby Black Loyalist Heritage Centre in Birchtown.

Yarmouth

Still home to the largest fishing fleet in Atlantic Canada, the town of Yarmouth is famed for its grand historic homes topped with widow’s walks, where captain’s wives could watch for their husband’s ships coming in from the ocean. There’s a branch of the Art Gallery of Nova Scotia in town, with space dedicated to much-loved local folk artist Maud Lewis, and plenty of restaurants serving up local seafood. Head out to the 174-year-old Cape Forchu Lightstation for glorious views and hiking trails, or check out the huge collection of artefacts at the Yarmouth County Museum and Archives.

Digby

Famous for the big, fat juicy scallops hauled out of the waters here, Digby has been holding its annual Scallop Days festival every August for the past 43 years. Built around the fishing docks, Digby has historic wooden homes and quaint charm, with lively bars and restaurants throughout the summer. It’s also famous for the Wharf Rat Rally, the biggest multi-day biker bash in Canada, held the first weekend in September. The nearby Brier Island is the ideal place to jump on a whale-watching tour to catch a glimpse of the whale species that call the Bay of Fundy home during the summer months.

Annapolis Royal

Home to some of North America’s first European settlers – it flipped between French and English occupation seven times – Annapolis Royal’s 400-year history can be explored at the Fort Anne National Historic Site. Admire the 135 registered historic homes, tour the Annapolis Royal Historic Gardens, and browse the stores and cafes of St George Street (the German Bakery Sachsen Cafe is great for tea and cake). Annapolis Royal is beautiful, and the drive to get there is absolutely stunning. Stop at nearby Bear River, a tiny village that’s now a haven for artists.

Tatamagouche

Not quite trendy, but certainly getting there, Tatamagouche is becoming something of a Nova Scotian hotspot. Since the excellent Tatamagouche Brewing Company opened in 2014, and expanded with a tasting room on Main Street, other small businesses have followed suit, breathing life into this adorable small town. There’s a farmers’ market at the Creamery Square, wonderful local beaches, and just outside town you’ll find the Seafoam Lavender Company & Gardens – heavenly to walk around when in bloom.

Fishermen

One of the sweetest things about visiting Nova Scotia’s coastal towns is the access to the freshest seafood, and the opportunity to interact with locals who you’ll see hauling their catches in at the dock. You’ll often see fishermen parked up at the roadside or in car parks selling stuff out of coolers on the back of their trucks, and this is a totally legit (and cheaper) way to pick up lobster, scallops, haddock, or whatever else is good at that time of year. David Lanteigne, a fisherman on Nova Scotia’s south shore, is pictured on his return from an early morning fishing expedition.

Buoys

Evidence of the fishing industry is to be found all around the shores of Nova Scotia, and although it looks old-timey and quaint, you’re seeing the tools of the trade that are still very much in use. A glimpse of wooden lobster pots stacked up in a front yard, or a fishing shack filled with colourful buoys, like this one in Cape Forchu, makes for a pretty sight, and is always worth a snap.